Host RHS volleyball wins in first round of district

But in the first games of matches against Rolla High School this season, the Yellowjackets have been lights-out.

It happened again Monday in the first round of the Missouri Class 4, District 10 Tournament at the RHS gym. Fifth-seeded Lebanon came out and put a scare in the host fourth-seeded Lady Bulldogs by winning the first game.

However, Rolla settled down, regrouped and took care of the Jackets in the final two games to win 20-25, 25-14, 25-10 and advance to last night's semifinal round.

In other first-round matches on Monday second-seeded Willard swept past seventh-seeded West Plains while third-seeded Waynesville swept sixth-seeded Camdenton. Top-seeded Jefferson City received a first-round bye.

Rolla (24-11) was to play Jefferson City (20-11-2) while Waynesville (24-6) took on Willard (21-11-2) in semifinal matches Tuesday at the RHS gym. The district championship match was scheduled for later Tuesday.

Lebanon ended its season with a 6-20-4 record on Monday. But the Jackets didn't look like a 20-match loser in Game 1s against RHS this fall. In a regular-season match Oct. 10 in Rolla, Lebanon also won the first game before the Lady Bulldogs rallied for the victory.

"We played a great second and third game to win the match," said RHS head coach Julie Carver. "We really need to figure out how to come out and play well in the first game.

"But (Monday) we got a win and advanced to the second round of district play and that makes it a great win."

Junior hitter Aarika Froehlich helped settle the Lady Bulldogs down after the first game and finished with seven solo blocks in the match along with 14 kills.

Also for RHS senior Gabe Otte had three kills, one ace and 12 digs while junior Jessi Kaczmarek had 12 digs; junior Kelsi James had 19 assists, eight digs and four kills; senior Emily Dodge eight kills, and junior Sofie Luna had seven digs.